Midas Tour announces new link-up,
new sponsor - and plans for ladies tour
Britain’s new professional golf tour, the Midas Tour, has announced an "Association of Tours" with a new tour based in the North of England, The Players Tour.
The link-up will give members of each tour automatic associate membership of the other, and there are also plans for co-sanctioned events in addition to the tours’ separate tournaments.
“This is another major benefit for our members,” said Midas Tour director Paul Seymour, himself a professional player. “I know that pros are looking for high quality competition without spending a fortune, and this association gives our members even better value with a tremendous new benefit, which is probably unique among development tours in the UK.”
The Midas Tour is also encouraging women professionals, and category 1 amateurs, to join its planned Ladies Pro Golf Tour.
“Many women professionals have made the point that there are not enough events for them, so if there is sufficient demand, we will run the new ladies tour as separate events through 2008,” said Seymour.
The Midas Tour will consist of 18 events throughout 2008, including an end-of-season pro-am competition.
New golf clothing label Lateral Hazard is sponsoring the order of merit with a £1,000 clothing deal for the winner, and will also kit out the tour’s staff.
The tour gets under way at Orchardleigh Golf Club, Frome, Somerset, on April 8 and 9, and will include events across the South of England and the Midlands, with two-day 36-hole tournaments at some of the country’s most attractive courses.
The expected first prize at each event will be around £2,000, with a minimum of £1,000 if the entry is low.
The Midas Tour has already attracted players with top-level experience on the European Tour, Sunshine Tour and European Seniors Tour.
Paul Eales won the 1994 Extremadura Open on the European Tour and has earned more than £1 million in prize money. He is now increasingly well-known as a commentator for the BBC and Setanta Sports.
Australian Daniel Gaunt played on the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour and finished third in the 2004 EuroPro order of merit and runner-up the following year, when he also won the £10,000 Peugeot International.
Along with others who have played on the Seniors Tour, the two bring a wealth of experience to the Midas Tour, which is designed mainly as a stepping stone for budding professionals, keen to progress to the Challenge Tour and European Tour.
Players and potential sponsors wanting information should contact Paul Seymour on 01769 560611 or email themidastour@hotmail.co.uk Further details are available at www.themidastour.com
The 2008 Midas Tour schedule is as follows:

8-9 April Orchardleigh, Frome, Somerset
21-22 April The Menzies Cambridge Hotel and Golf Club, Cambridge
12-13 May The Players’ Club, Codrington, Bristol
20-21 May Farrington Golf and Country Club, Farrington Gurney, Bristol
4-5 June Paultons Golf Centre, near Romsey, Hampshire
17-18 June Cumberwell Park, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
1-2 July Rye Hill Golf Club, Banbury, Oxfordshire
17-18 July South Essex Golf Club, Brentwood, Essex
21-22 July Oake Manor Golf Club, near Taunton, Somerset
7-8 Aug The South Staffordshire Golf Club, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton
19-20 Aug Blue Mountain Golf Club, Binfield, Berks
26-27 Aug Sherfield Oaks Golf Club, near Basingstoke, Hampshire
8-9 Sept Chelsfield Lakes Golf Club, Orpington, Kent
23-24 Sept Traditions Golf Club, Pyrford Woking, Surrey
7-8 Oct Cumberwell Park, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
13-14 Oct The Players’ Club, Codrington, Bristol
20-21 Oct Bowood Golf and Country Club, Calne, Wiltshire
22 Oct Pro-Am – Bowood Golf and Country Club.